Sunday in Central Park
I get to New York City about once or twice a year. I find the contrast with my little Idaho town to be invigorating. LaPriel and I hadn’t been together in Manhattan since 2000 when we ventured into the city with our three kids. This trip we met up with my mom and 4 sisters⎯an annual excursion that for numerous reasons we haven’t taken since December 2001.
When you arrive in Manhattan after an extended stay in rural Idaho, the first thing you notice is the stream of honking horns. People don’t honk in my little Idaho town. It’s considered rude. Not to mention foolish, because if in a rash moment you blindly lay on the horn to express displeasure, you’ll most likely take a closer look at the offender and realize it’s your neighbor, your son’s soccer coach or your second cousin. In New York, it seems offensive not to honk. It’s the city’s universal language. Not honking when someone cuts you off, or is too slow to accelerate on green, or blocks traffic would be akin to not writing a thank you note for a gift.
The second thing you notice in New York is the press of people. More than once LaPriel and I were strolling along when someone pushed their way between us. This is not a city for slow walkers. Several times I found myself falling into the city’s heightened cadence only to have LaPriel call me back and remind me her legs aren’t as long as mine.
When I visit New York, I imagine what it would be like to live there. We had the chance to do so number of years ago, but decided against it. I don’t think I have the temperament. After three days in the city, I start to get nervous. I am not a worrier by nature, but somehow seventy-two hours of constant honking and crowds gets me thinking about all the things that could go wrong with my life. I also need more open space and less shadows.
Still, there are things that you can only find and experience in New York, which is why I return.
This was a productive trip. I bought a new winter coat at Barney’s and some sunglasses to replace the ones that got crushed by a horse. I visited five different stores in Soho looking for sunglasses while LaPriel was getting her hair done. There was no doubt I would buy from the last store I visited, because the salesman without a word selected a pair from the display, had me put them on me, then gave me a look that said these were the only glasses in the store that belonged on my face and if I chose another pair or none at all, then I had no taste whatsoever and I should march myself out of his shop for having spurned his professional advice.
We enjoyed attending the The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee, eating at Blue Hill, Chennai Garden, the Goblin Market, and a restaurant in Little Italy whose name I don’t remember, spending time with my family and walking and riding the subway and walking some more.
Now we are huddled again in our bungalow, enjoying the silence and the starlit sky. The city will call again, but for now it’s good to be home.
Comments
Ah, thank you, JD . . . just the kind of update I was waiting for! P.S. I think it's cool that LaPriel had her hair done in NYC--tres chic.
Posted by: Lisa | October 18, 2006 10:55 PM
I conveniently left out the part about how LaPriel's hair turned out so well, I went to the same studio a couple of days later to get my hair done. That is a post for another day.
Posted by: jd | October 19, 2006 6:12 AM
I'm a lifelong city person, but mega-metropolises like London, Tokyo, NY, Paris and lA are difficult to handle over long periods of time. Still, NY is still a cut above the rest, IMHO.
But yes! It IS good to be home. :-)
PS: Love your pics JD, do you use an SLR?
Posted by: AY | October 20, 2006 7:44 PM
Thanks AY. I use a Nikon D50 SLR for photos. Why do you think New York is a cut above the rest of the mega-metropolises? I've only been to London, New York, Seoul and LA, although my daughter has committed me to taking her to Paris in the next 12 to 18 months.
Posted by: jd | October 21, 2006 2:22 PM
JD - I must get myself an SLR, then! I've been eyeing the Canon ones for a long time. Haven't an artistic bone in my body, however...
Well... there's a certain something in NY... it's as if anything is possible. There's a real freedom of being and optimism about it. Whereas, its "lesser" counterparts are merely plodding along - resigned and robotic! NY is a fighting spirit. I love that about NY.
Paris... I think it's lovely for every girl to see Paris first with the man who'll truly love her her entire life. =) I am sure you'll both enjoy the City of Lights! Bon nuit!
Posted by: AY | October 23, 2006 5:58 AM
The beauty AY of an digital SLR is you don't need to be an artist to take great shots. You can take 250 pictures and just keep the three that turned out well.
Interesting thoughts on New York and Paris. I refuse to go to Paris, though, without at least learning some passable French. Two years ago, I visited a hedge fund manager in a small southern Switzerland town. I think the manager was the only one in the entire city who spoke English. Everyone else spoke French, which made my English and Spanish laughable.
Posted by: jd | October 23, 2006 11:58 AM
Yes, I suppose that is true of all digicams!
It's very strange with the non-Nordic/Scandinavian Europeans. Most of them speak conversational English but refuse to (or are embarrassed to - as the French are).
In France, this comes across as being awfully arrogant. A lot of the times, they ARE arrogant. But they don't have the New World's knack of making fast-friends. If that makes much sense.
I think you're doing the right thing by them (and you). You'll enjoy France a lot more if you at least try to communicate with the locals in French. =) I am sure it'll be very rewarding. It's a wonderful country... except the dog poop everywhere! :-/
Posted by: AY | October 24, 2006 6:28 AM
Dog poop everywhere? Now that is something about France I've never heard before.
Is this one of those things that everyone knows about that somehow missed me entirely?
Posted by: jd | October 24, 2006 8:48 PM
That was a great post, JD. Thanks for sharing it with us. And your photos are awesome.
I was in NYC way back when we were staioned in upstate NY, for one day with a tour to see the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. The cops caught a mugger by slamming him into our van, and my husband decided he didn't want to go back. But I think he's recovered a bit by now.
Posted by: Kell | October 24, 2006 11:14 PM
Kell, I could see how that incident might discourage future visits. So exactly how many places have you lived? Seems liked you have mentioned at least 5 or 6 in various posts.
Posted by: jd | October 25, 2006 5:17 AM
Kell, I could see how that incident might discourage future visits. So exactly how many places have you lived? Seems liked you have mentioned at least 5 or 6 in various posts.
Posted by: jd | October 25, 2006 5:18 AM
Hey JD - I've moved (formerly AY).
About the dog poop - it's more prevalent in Paris. I saw less of it outside of Paris itself. But the French (perhaps more accurately: the Parisians) don't like picking after their beloved pooches - yep, a well-known fact!
Posted by: Dos Centavos | October 26, 2006 6:00 AM
The AF has moved us around every 3 years or so. We started in Sacramento CA, then Rome NY, then Shreveport, LA, then Pensacola FL, then San Antonio TX, then Dayton OH, and now Omaha NE. I really enjoy it, though. It's great exploring so many places.
Posted by: Kell | October 26, 2006 10:16 AM
Lots of variety in those places, Kell. Looks like it might be time to be stationed overseas.
Posted by: jd | October 27, 2006 10:15 AM